Carpal Tunnel Treatment in Portland, OR
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Specialist
Carpal tunnel syndrome, medically termed median nerve compression syndrome, is a common condition causing pain and numbness in the hand or arm. It occurs due to compression of the nerves that pass through the wrist, mainly the median nerve. A chiropractor in Portland believes that an early diagnosis can be beneficial to start early intervention in carpal tunnel syndrome, as it can worsen over time. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated with non-surgical approaches before trying an Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel surgery.
What is carpal tunnel?
The median nerve which is present along the length of our forearm passes through a passage in your wrist known as the carpal tunnel, ending in your hand.
Why is this nerve important? Because it controls the movement and feeling of all your fingers and thumb except the little finger. If pressure on the pinched nerve continues, it can cause nerve damage. To prevent permanent damage, surgery to take the pressure off the median nerve may be recommended by a Carpal Tunnel specialist.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may include:
- A numbness, or a tingling sensation
- Weakness in your hand or wrist
- Tingling sensation in the fingers due to slower nerve impulses
- Less strength and coordination in your hand
- Occasionally a shock-like sensation may be evident in the thumb and radiating to the fingers
- There may be trouble grasping things due to weakness in the arm
In the initial stages, many people report that shaking their hands may relieve the numbness. But this doesn’t work as the symptoms worsen with time, and muscle weakness sets in.
Causes of carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be caused by:
- Pressure on your median nerve due to repetitive actions or usage of the same hand or wrist during activities like typing, etc.
- Systemic conditions like imbalance of thyroid, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc.
- Heredity of the anatomy of your wrist
- Pregnancy
Consequently, there is a higher risk of developing Carpal Tunnel syndrome: in women, people with a family history of small carpals, and occupational hazards for those who perform repetitive motions with their wrists like sewing, knitting, typing, playing musical instruments, etc.
Endoscopic (Minimally Invasive) Release: The Advanced technique
An advanced endoscopic method recently used for Carpal Tunnel surgery involves a single port endoscopic technique. This procedure is minimally invasive as it does not need a skin incision (which leaves nasty scars on the wrist). Instead, an optically linked video monitor and a Smart Release device are employed to cut the ligament precisely to enlarge the carpal tunnel. It is generally performed under local anesthesia and does not last more than half an hour. A small scar less than 1cm remains within the folds of the wrist, and the patient can often return to work in a week.
Carpal Tunnel Treatment
It is crucial to get your problem diagnosed and treated early to stop this syndrome from worsening. Early intervention may help to avoid surgery. However, depending on the symptoms, a carpal tunnel specialist may recommend the following:
Non-surgical Treatment
Lifestyle modifications: You can choose to take breaks from the work that involves repetitive wrist motions to provide the joint some rest.
Bracing or splinting: Your doctor may advise you to wear a brace or splint that holds your arm in a neutral position, thus reducing pressure on the median nerve.
Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroid injections are typically given by the specialist to control the pain and inflammation.
Exercises: Nerve gliding exercises are very beneficial in moving the nerve freely in the carpal tunnel. These stretching movements help you relieve symptoms.
Alternative Medicine: Integrating alternative therapy into the treatment plan can help with a speedy recovery. This therapy includes yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Chiropractic therapies like spinal manipulation and deep friction massage effectively ease your symptoms and may help you heal faster.
Surgical Treatment: When non-surgical treatment fails to yield results, surgical intervention becomes necessary. An Open Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery increases the size of the carpal tunnel. This surgery involves cutting the ligament attached to the tunnel roof, thus releasing the pressure on the median nerve.
How Laurelhurst Chiropractic Can Help In Wrist Pain Due To Carpal Tunnel
Laurelhurst Chiropractic serves the Oregon, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Clackamas, Tigard, Tualatin and Milwaukie cities.
Call us today if you are experiencing wrist pain due to carpal tunnel in Portland.
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Do not ignore your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it can become worse overtime. It’s important to consult with the doctor and understand the root cause of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
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Frequently asked questions
How I cure my carpal tunnel naturally?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when there is a compression of the median nerve in our wrist. So non-surgical therapies like exercises, splinting, lifestyle changes, etc. can be undertaken but may not always be enough. If you want to treat your carpal tunnel syndrome without surgery, you may choose chiropractic therapies. Spinal manipulation and deep friction massage are highly effective therapies for carpal tunnel treatment.
Is carpal tunnel considered nerve damage?
No. The symptoms of carpal tunnel, i.e., numbness, tingling sensation, pain, etc. indicate that the median nerve is under pressure. With early diagnosis and proper intervention, a person can easily go back to being normal. But if the symptoms worsen with time, the wrist may lose sensation and the ability to grasp objects.
Can you fix carpal tunnel without surgery?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when there is a compression of the median nerve in the wrist. So non-surgical therapies like exercises, splinting, lifestyle changes, etc. can be undertaken but may not always be enough. If you want your carpal tunnel syndrome to be treated without surgery, you may choose chiropractic therapies like spinal manipulation and deep friction massage, which are highly effective.
How do I know if it’s carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis?
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be differentiated from rheumatoid arthritis. In the latter, there is pain distributed along the wrist to knuckles and the fingers’ small joints, which is absent in the carpal Tunnel.
How long does carpal tunnel usually last?
The symptoms of carpal tunnel may be mild in the beginning but worsen with time if neglected. These symptoms have been known to last up to 6 months or longer without subsiding by themselves. You must consult a carpal tunnel specialist as early as possible. If you do not want surgery, you should seek chiropractic services for a non-surgical treatment approach, but the condition should not be ignored.
